diff --git a/api/routes/setup.py b/api/routes/setup.py
index ab85ff5..6b8e160 100644
--- a/api/routes/setup.py
+++ b/api/routes/setup.py
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
 import logging
+import re
+import urllib.request
+import urllib.error
+import json as _json
 from flask import Blueprint, request, jsonify
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('picell')
 
 setup_bp = Blueprint('setup', __name__, url_prefix='/api/setup')
 
+_DOMAIN_RE = re.compile(r'^[a-z0-9]([a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?(\.[a-z]{2,})+$', re.I)
+
 
 def _get_setup_manager():
     from app import setup_manager
@@ -24,8 +30,8 @@ def get_setup_status():
 def validate_setup_step():
     """Validate a single wizard step.
 
-    Expects JSON body: ``{'step': '<step_name>', 'data': {...}}``.
-    Supported steps: ``cell_name``, ``password``.
+    Supported steps: ``cell_name``, ``password``,
+    ``pic_ngo_available``, ``cloudflare_token``, ``duckdns_token``.
     """
     sm = _get_setup_manager()
     if sm.is_setup_complete():
@@ -37,12 +43,36 @@ def validate_setup_step():
 
     if step == 'cell_name':
         errors = sm.validate_cell_name(data.get('cell_name', ''))
-    elif step == 'password':
-        errors = sm.validate_password(data.get('password', ''))
-    else:
-        return jsonify({'valid': False, 'errors': [f"Unknown step: {step!r}"]}), 400
+        return jsonify({'valid': len(errors) == 0, 'errors': errors})
 
-    return jsonify({'valid': len(errors) == 0, 'errors': errors})
+    if step == 'password':
+        errors = sm.validate_password(data.get('password', ''))
+        return jsonify({'valid': len(errors) == 0, 'errors': errors})
+
+    if step == 'pic_ngo_available':
+        name = data.get('cell_name', '').strip()
+        errors = sm.validate_cell_name(name)
+        if errors:
+            return jsonify({'available': False, 'errors': errors})
+        available = _check_pic_ngo_available(name)
+        return jsonify({'available': available})
+
+    if step == 'cloudflare_token':
+        token = data.get('token', '').strip()
+        if not token:
+            return jsonify({'valid': False, 'error': 'Token is required.'})
+        valid = _verify_cloudflare_token(token)
+        return jsonify({'valid': valid})
+
+    if step == 'duckdns_token':
+        subdomain = data.get('subdomain', '').strip()
+        token = data.get('token', '').strip()
+        if not token or not subdomain:
+            return jsonify({'valid': False, 'error': 'Subdomain and token are required.'})
+        valid = _verify_duckdns_token(subdomain, token)
+        return jsonify({'valid': valid})
+
+    return jsonify({'valid': False, 'errors': [f"Unknown step: {step!r}"]}), 400
 
 
 @setup_bp.route('/complete', methods=['POST'])
@@ -56,3 +86,37 @@ def complete_setup():
     result = sm.complete_setup(payload)
     status_code = 200 if result.get('success') else 400
     return jsonify(result), status_code
+
+
+# ── external validation helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _check_pic_ngo_available(name: str) -> bool:
+    try:
+        url = f'https://ddns.pic.ngo/api/v1/check/{name}'
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(url, timeout=8) as resp:
+            body = _json.loads(resp.read())
+            return bool(body.get('available'))
+    except Exception:
+        return True  # assume available if check fails — don't block the wizard
+
+
+def _verify_cloudflare_token(token: str) -> bool:
+    try:
+        req = urllib.request.Request(
+            'https://api.cloudflare.com/client/v4/user/tokens/verify',
+            headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}'},
+        )
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=8) as resp:
+            body = _json.loads(resp.read())
+            return bool(body.get('success'))
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+
+def _verify_duckdns_token(subdomain: str, token: str) -> bool:
+    try:
+        url = f'https://www.duckdns.org/update?domains={subdomain}&token={token}&ip='
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(url, timeout=8) as resp:
+            return resp.read().strip() == b'OK'
+    except Exception:
+        return False
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index ef6e35d..b95515f 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 # =============================================================================
 #
 # Usage:
-#   sudo bash install.sh              # Standard install
-#   sudo bash install.sh --force      # Bypass idempotency check
-#   sudo PIC_DIR=/srv/pic bash install.sh   # Custom install directory
+#   bash install.sh              # Standard install (uses sudo internally for packages)
+#   bash install.sh --force      # Bypass idempotency check
+#   PIC_DIR=/srv/pic bash install.sh   # Custom install directory
 #
 # Supported OS: Debian/Ubuntu (apt), Fedora/RHEL (dnf), Alpine Linux (apk)
 #
@@ -79,62 +79,13 @@ log_error()   { printf "\n${RED}${BOLD}ERROR:${RESET}${RED} %s${RESET}\n" "$1" >
 
 die() { log_error "$1"; exit 1; }
 
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Interactive prompt helpers (use /dev/tty so they work even with piped stdin)
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-prompt() {
-    # prompt <label> <default> <var>
-    local _label="$1" _default="$2" _var="$3" _inp=''
-    if [ -n "$_default" ]; then
-        printf "  %s [%s]: " "$_label" "$_default" >/dev/tty
-    else
-        printf "  %s: " "$_label" >/dev/tty
-    fi
-    read -r _inp </dev/tty || true
-    [ -z "$_inp" ] && _inp="$_default"
-    eval "${_var}=\${_inp}"
-}
-
-prompt_secret() {
-    # prompt_secret <label> <var>
-    local _label="$1" _var="$2" _inp=''
-    printf "  %s: " "$_label" >/dev/tty
-    stty -echo </dev/tty 2>/dev/null || true
-    read -r _inp </dev/tty || true
-    stty echo  </dev/tty 2>/dev/null || true
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    eval "${_var}=\${_inp}"
-}
-
-verify_cf_token() {
-    local _token="$1" _result=''
-    _result=$(curl -fsSm 10 \
-        -H "Authorization: Bearer ${_token}" \
-        "https://api.cloudflare.com/client/v4/user/tokens/verify" 2>/dev/null) || true
-    echo "$_result" | grep -q '"success":true'
-}
-
-verify_duckdns() {
-    local _sub="$1" _token="$2" _result=''
-    _result=$(curl -fsSm 10 \
-        "https://www.duckdns.org/update?domains=${_sub}&token=${_token}&ip=" 2>/dev/null) || true
-    [ "$_result" = "OK" ]
-}
-
-check_pic_ngo_available() {
-    local _name="$1" _result=''
-    _result=$(curl -fsSm 10 \
-        "https://ddns.pic.ngo/api/v1/check/${_name}" 2>/dev/null) || true
-    echo "$_result" | grep -q '"available":true'
-}
-
-TOTAL_STEPS=8
+TOTAL_STEPS=7
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Must run as root
+# Sudo check — we need it for package installs and system user creation
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-if [ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]; then
-    die "This installer must be run as root (use sudo)."
+if ! command -v sudo >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    die "sudo is required. Install it and ensure your user has sudo access."
 fi
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -198,37 +149,32 @@ case "$PKG_MANAGER" in
 
     apt)
         export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
-        apt-get update -qq
-        apt-get install -y -qq git curl make docker.io docker-compose-plugin 2>&1 \
+        sudo apt-get update -qq
+        sudo apt-get install -y -qq git curl make docker.io docker-compose-plugin 2>&1 \
             | grep -v "^$" | sed 's/^/  /' || true
 
-        # Verify docker compose plugin installed
         if ! docker compose version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
             log_warn "docker-compose-plugin not available; falling back to standalone docker-compose"
-            apt-get install -y -qq docker-compose 2>&1 | grep -v "^$" | sed 's/^/  /' || true
+            sudo apt-get install -y -qq docker-compose 2>&1 | grep -v "^$" | sed 's/^/  /' || true
         fi
         ;;
 
     dnf)
-        dnf install -y -q git curl make docker 2>&1 | sed 's/^/  /' || true
+        sudo dnf install -y -q git curl make docker 2>&1 | sed 's/^/  /' || true
 
-        # Enable and start Docker (dnf installs but doesn't enable it)
-        systemctl enable --now docker >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+        sudo systemctl enable --now docker >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 
-        # Docker Compose plugin comes bundled with the Docker CE package on Fedora/RHEL.
-        # If not present, install via the docker-compose-plugin package (Docker CE repo).
         if ! docker compose version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
             log_warn "docker compose plugin not found; installing docker-compose-plugin..."
-            dnf install -y -q docker-compose-plugin 2>&1 | sed 's/^/  /' || true
+            sudo dnf install -y -q docker-compose-plugin 2>&1 | sed 's/^/  /' || true
         fi
         ;;
 
     apk)
-        apk add --quiet git curl make docker docker-cli-compose 2>&1 | sed 's/^/  /' || true
+        sudo apk add --quiet git curl make docker docker-cli-compose 2>&1 | sed 's/^/  /' || true
 
-        # Enable Docker on Alpine (OpenRC)
-        rc-update add docker default >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-        service docker start >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+        sudo rc-update add docker default >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+        sudo service docker start >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
         ;;
 
 esac
@@ -253,10 +199,10 @@ log_step 3 "Configuring system user..."
 if ! id "$PIC_USER" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     case "$PKG_MANAGER" in
         apk)
-            adduser -S -D -H -s /sbin/nologin "$PIC_USER"
+            sudo adduser -S -D -H -s /sbin/nologin "$PIC_USER"
             ;;
         *)
-            useradd --system --no-create-home --shell /usr/sbin/nologin "$PIC_USER"
+            sudo useradd --system --no-create-home --shell /usr/sbin/nologin "$PIC_USER"
             ;;
     esac
     log_ok "Created system user: ${PIC_USER}"
@@ -264,17 +210,18 @@ else
     log_ok "System user already exists: ${PIC_USER}"
 fi
 
-# Ensure docker group exists and user is in it
+# Ensure docker group exists and invoking user is in it
 if ! getent group docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    groupadd docker
+    sudo groupadd docker
     log_ok "Created docker group"
 fi
 
-if ! id -nG "$PIC_USER" | grep -qw docker; then
-    usermod -aG docker "$PIC_USER"
-    log_ok "Added ${PIC_USER} to docker group"
+CURRENT_USER="${USER:-$(id -un)}"
+if ! id -nG "$CURRENT_USER" | grep -qw docker; then
+    sudo usermod -aG docker "$CURRENT_USER"
+    log_ok "Added ${CURRENT_USER} to docker group (re-login or newgrp docker to apply)"
 else
-    log_ok "${PIC_USER} is already in docker group"
+    log_ok "${CURRENT_USER} is already in docker group"
 fi
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -294,203 +241,25 @@ else
     log_ok "Repository cloned to ${PIC_DIR}"
 fi
 
-# Give the invoking user (or pic if run directly as root) ownership of the repo
-# so they can run `make update` and other git commands without sudo.
-REPO_OWNER="${SUDO_USER:-${PIC_USER}}"
-chown -R "${REPO_OWNER}:${REPO_OWNER}" "$PIC_DIR"
-# Allow all users to run git commands here regardless of who owns the files
-git config --system --add safe.directory "$PIC_DIR" 2>/dev/null || true
+sudo git config --system --add safe.directory "$PIC_DIR" 2>/dev/null || true
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Step 5 — Configure cell identity
+# Step 5 — Run make install
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-log_step 5 "Configuring cell identity..."
-
-if [ ! -c /dev/tty ]; then
-    die "No interactive terminal available. Re-run with a real terminal (not piped)."
-fi
-
-printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-
-# ── Cell name ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-PIC_CELL_NAME=''
-while true; do
-    prompt "Cell name (e.g. myhome, alice, lab)" "" PIC_CELL_NAME
-    if echo "$PIC_CELL_NAME" | grep -qE '^[a-z][a-z0-9-]{1,30}$'; then
-        break
-    fi
-    log_warn "Must start with a letter, use only lowercase letters/digits/hyphens, 2–31 chars."
-done
-
-# ── Domain / DDNS choice ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
-printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-printf "  How will your cell be publicly reachable?\n" >/dev/tty
-printf "    1) pic.ngo subdomain  — free, %s.pic.ngo, fully automatic HTTPS\n" "$PIC_CELL_NAME" >/dev/tty
-printf "    2) Cloudflare DNS-01  — your own domain (must use Cloudflare nameservers)\n" >/dev/tty
-printf "    3) DuckDNS            — free *.duckdns.org subdomain\n" >/dev/tty
-printf "    4) HTTP-01 (any)      — any domain, port 80 must be publicly reachable\n" >/dev/tty
-printf "    5) Local only         — no public domain, LAN/VPN access only\n" >/dev/tty
-printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-
-PIC_DOMAIN_MODE=''
-_choice=''
-while true; do
-    prompt "Choice" "1" _choice
-    case "$_choice" in
-        1) PIC_DOMAIN_MODE="pic_ngo";    break ;;
-        2) PIC_DOMAIN_MODE="cloudflare"; break ;;
-        3) PIC_DOMAIN_MODE="duckdns";    break ;;
-        4) PIC_DOMAIN_MODE="http01";     break ;;
-        5) PIC_DOMAIN_MODE="lan";        break ;;
-        *) log_warn "Enter a number from 1 to 5." ;;
-    esac
-done
-
-PIC_DOMAIN_NAME=''
-PIC_CF_TOKEN=''
-PIC_DDK_TOKEN=''
-PIC_DDK_SUB=''
-
-# ── pic.ngo ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-if [ "$PIC_DOMAIN_MODE" = "pic_ngo" ]; then
-    PIC_DOMAIN_NAME="${PIC_CELL_NAME}.pic.ngo"
-    printf "  Checking name availability at pic.ngo..." >/dev/tty
-    if check_pic_ngo_available "$PIC_CELL_NAME"; then
-        printf " available\n" >/dev/tty
-        log_ok "Will register: ${PIC_DOMAIN_NAME}"
-    else
-        printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-        log_warn "${PIC_DOMAIN_NAME} may already be taken or the server is unreachable."
-        log_warn "Registration will be retried at first boot."
-    fi
-fi
-
-# ── Cloudflare ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-if [ "$PIC_DOMAIN_MODE" = "cloudflare" ]; then
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    while true; do
-        prompt "Your domain name (e.g. home.example.com)" "" PIC_DOMAIN_NAME
-        if echo "$PIC_DOMAIN_NAME" | grep -qiE '^[a-z0-9]([a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?(\.[a-z]{2,})+$'; then
-            break
-        fi
-        log_warn "Enter a valid fully-qualified domain name (e.g. home.example.com)."
-    done
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    printf "  Create an API token at: Cloudflare Dashboard → My Profile → API Tokens\n" >/dev/tty
-    printf "  Required permission: Zone / DNS / Edit  (set to all zones or your specific zone)\n" >/dev/tty
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    _attempts=0
-    while true; do
-        prompt_secret "Cloudflare API token" PIC_CF_TOKEN
-        if [ -z "$PIC_CF_TOKEN" ]; then
-            log_warn "Token cannot be empty."
-            continue
-        fi
-        printf "  Verifying token with Cloudflare..." >/dev/tty
-        if verify_cf_token "$PIC_CF_TOKEN"; then
-            printf " valid\n" >/dev/tty
-            log_ok "Cloudflare token verified"
-            break
-        fi
-        printf " invalid\n" >/dev/tty
-        _attempts=$((_attempts + 1))
-        log_warn "Verification failed — check the token has Zone / DNS / Edit permission."
-        if [ "$_attempts" -ge 2 ]; then
-            log_warn "Token failed twice. You can still continue — it will be tested again at first boot."
-            prompt "Press Enter to continue with this token, or Ctrl-C to abort and re-run" "" _dummy
-            break
-        fi
-    done
-fi
-
-# ── DuckDNS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-if [ "$PIC_DOMAIN_MODE" = "duckdns" ]; then
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    printf "  First create a subdomain at duckdns.org, then enter the details below.\n" >/dev/tty
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    while true; do
-        prompt "DuckDNS subdomain (e.g. myhome  →  myhome.duckdns.org)" "" PIC_DDK_SUB
-        if echo "$PIC_DDK_SUB" | grep -qE '^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]*$'; then
-            break
-        fi
-        log_warn "Subdomain must be lowercase letters, digits, and hyphens only."
-    done
-    PIC_DOMAIN_NAME="${PIC_DDK_SUB}.duckdns.org"
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    _attempts=0
-    while true; do
-        prompt_secret "DuckDNS token (from duckdns.org account page)" PIC_DDK_TOKEN
-        if [ -z "$PIC_DDK_TOKEN" ]; then
-            log_warn "Token cannot be empty."
-            continue
-        fi
-        printf "  Verifying token with DuckDNS..." >/dev/tty
-        if verify_duckdns "$PIC_DDK_SUB" "$PIC_DDK_TOKEN"; then
-            printf " valid\n" >/dev/tty
-            log_ok "DuckDNS token verified  (${PIC_DOMAIN_NAME})"
-            break
-        fi
-        printf " invalid\n" >/dev/tty
-        _attempts=$((_attempts + 1))
-        log_warn "Verification failed — make sure the subdomain exists at duckdns.org and the token is correct."
-        if [ "$_attempts" -ge 2 ]; then
-            log_warn "Token failed twice. You can still continue — it will be tested again at first boot."
-            prompt "Press Enter to continue with this token, or Ctrl-C to abort and re-run" "" _dummy
-            break
-        fi
-    done
-fi
-
-# ── HTTP-01 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-if [ "$PIC_DOMAIN_MODE" = "http01" ]; then
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    while true; do
-        prompt "Your domain name (e.g. home.example.com)" "" PIC_DOMAIN_NAME
-        if echo "$PIC_DOMAIN_NAME" | grep -qiE '^[a-z0-9]([a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?(\.[a-z]{2,})+$'; then
-            break
-        fi
-        log_warn "Enter a valid fully-qualified domain name."
-    done
-    printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-    log_warn "HTTP-01 requires port 80 to be publicly reachable from the internet."
-    log_warn "Make sure your router forwards port 80 to this machine before completing setup."
-fi
-
-# ── Local only ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-if [ "$PIC_DOMAIN_MODE" = "lan" ]; then
-    log_ok "Local-only mode — no public domain or DDNS will be configured."
-fi
-
-printf "\n" >/dev/tty
-log_ok "Identity configured: cell=${PIC_CELL_NAME}  mode=${PIC_DOMAIN_MODE}${PIC_DOMAIN_NAME:+  domain=${PIC_DOMAIN_NAME}}"
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Step 6 — Run make install
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-log_step 6 "Running 'make install'..."
+log_step 5 "Running 'make install'..."
 
 cd "$PIC_DIR"
 
-if ! CELL_NAME="$PIC_CELL_NAME" \
-      DOMAIN_MODE="$PIC_DOMAIN_MODE" \
-      CELL_DOMAIN_NAME="${PIC_DOMAIN_NAME:-}" \
-      CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN="${PIC_CF_TOKEN:-}" \
-      DUCKDNS_TOKEN="${PIC_DDK_TOKEN:-}" \
-      DUCKDNS_SUBDOMAIN="${PIC_DDK_SUB:-}" \
-      make install 2>&1 | sed 's/^/  /'; then
+if ! make install 2>&1 | sed 's/^/  /'; then
     die "'make install' failed. Check the output above."
 fi
 
-# make install runs as root so config/ and data/ get created root-owned.
-# Re-apply ownership to the invoking user so they can manage files without sudo.
-chown -R "${REPO_OWNER}:${REPO_OWNER}" "$PIC_DIR"
-
 log_ok "'make install' complete"
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Step 7 — Start core services
+# Step 6 — Start core services
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-log_step 7 "Starting core services..."
+log_step 6 "Starting core services..."
 
 cd "$PIC_DIR"
 
@@ -501,9 +270,9 @@ fi
 log_ok "Core services started"
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Step 8 — Health check + print wizard URL
+# Step 7 — Health check + print wizard URL
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-log_step 8 "Waiting for API health check (up to ${API_HEALTH_TIMEOUT}s)..."
+log_step 7 "Waiting for API health check (up to ${API_HEALTH_TIMEOUT}s)..."
 
 ELAPSED=0
 HEALTHY=0
@@ -541,14 +310,7 @@ printf "\n${GREEN}${BOLD}=======================================================
 printf "${GREEN}${BOLD}  PIC installed successfully!${RESET}\n"
 printf "${GREEN}${BOLD}============================================================${RESET}\n"
 printf "\n"
-printf "  Cell:   ${BOLD}%s${RESET}\n" "$PIC_CELL_NAME"
-if [ -n "$PIC_DOMAIN_NAME" ]; then
-    printf "  Domain: ${BOLD}%s${RESET}  (%s)\n" "$PIC_DOMAIN_NAME" "$PIC_DOMAIN_MODE"
-else
-    printf "  Domain: %s\n" "local only (LAN/VPN)"
-fi
-printf "\n"
-printf "  Open the setup wizard to set your admin password and choose services:\n"
+printf "  Open the setup wizard to configure your cell:\n"
 printf "\n"
 printf "  ${BOLD}http://${HOST_IP}:${WEBUI_PORT}/setup${RESET}\n"
 printf "\n"
diff --git a/webui/src/pages/Setup.jsx b/webui/src/pages/Setup.jsx
index 494e4c5..1cd4998 100644
--- a/webui/src/pages/Setup.jsx
+++ b/webui/src/pages/Setup.jsx
@@ -200,43 +200,42 @@ function NavButtons({ onBack, onNext, nextLabel = 'Next', nextDisabled = false,
 
 function Step1CellName({ value, onChange, onNext }) {
   const [error, setError] = useState('');
-  const [serverError, setServerError] = useState('');
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
+  const [availability, setAvailability] = useState(null); // null | 'available' | 'taken' | 'unknown'
 
-  const validate = () => {
-    if (!value.trim()) return 'Cell name is required.';
-    if (!CELL_NAME_RE.test(value))
-      return 'Use lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only. Must start with a letter. 2–31 characters.';
-    return '';
+  const isValid = CELL_NAME_RE.test(value);
+
+  const handleChange = v => {
+    onChange(v.toLowerCase());
+    setError('');
+    setAvailability(null);
   };
 
   const handleNext = async () => {
-    const err = validate();
-    setError(err);
-    setServerError('');
-    if (err) return;
+    if (!value.trim()) { setError('Cell name is required.'); return; }
+    if (!isValid) { setError('Use lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only. Must start with a letter. 2–31 characters.'); return; }
 
     setLoading(true);
+    setError('');
     try {
-      await setupAPI.validate('cell_name', { cell_name: value });
+      const res = await setupAPI.validate('pic_ngo_available', { cell_name: value });
+      const avail = res.data?.available;
+      setAvailability(avail ? 'available' : 'taken');
       onNext();
     } catch (e) {
-      setServerError(
-        e?.response?.data?.error || 'Validation failed. Please try a different name.'
-      );
+      setAvailability('unknown');
+      onNext(); // don't block — availability check is informational
     } finally {
       setLoading(false);
     }
   };
 
-  const isValid = CELL_NAME_RE.test(value);
-
   return (
     <div>
       <StepHeader
         step={1}
         title="Name your cell"
-        description="This becomes your cell's identity and subdomain. If you choose pic.ngo it will be reachable at name.pic.ngo."
+        description="This becomes your cell's identity. If you choose pic.ngo it will be reachable at name.pic.ngo."
       />
       <div>
         <label className="block text-sm text-gray-400 mb-1.5" htmlFor="cell-name">
@@ -248,29 +247,25 @@ function Step1CellName({ value, onChange, onNext }) {
           autoComplete="off"
           spellCheck={false}
           value={value}
-          onChange={e => {
-            onChange(e.target.value.toLowerCase());
-            setError('');
-            setServerError('');
-          }}
+          onChange={e => handleChange(e.target.value)}
           onKeyDown={e => e.key === 'Enter' && handleNext()}
           placeholder="e.g. myhome"
           className="w-full bg-gray-800 border border-gray-600 rounded px-3 py-2 text-white text-sm focus:outline-none focus:border-blue-500 placeholder-gray-600"
-          aria-describedby={error || serverError ? 'cell-name-error' : undefined}
         />
-        {isValid ? (
+        {isValid && (
           <p className="mt-1.5 text-xs text-blue-400 flex items-center gap-1">
             <Globe className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
             pic.ngo preview: <span className="font-mono font-medium ml-1">{value}.pic.ngo</span>
+            {availability === 'available' && <span className="text-green-400 ml-1">— available</span>}
+            {availability === 'taken'     && <span className="text-yellow-400 ml-1">— may already be taken</span>}
           </p>
-        ) : (
+        )}
+        {!isValid && value && (
           <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-gray-500">
             Lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens. Must start with a letter. 2–31 characters.
           </p>
         )}
-        <div id="cell-name-error">
-          <FieldError message={error || serverError} />
-        </div>
+        <FieldError message={error} />
       </div>
       <NavButtons onNext={handleNext} loading={loading} nextDisabled={!value.trim()} />
     </div>
@@ -410,6 +405,26 @@ function Step3Domain({ value, onChange, onNext, onBack }) {
   );
 }
 
+function TokenVerifyButton({ onVerify, status }) {
+  const label = status === 'checking' ? 'Verifying…'
+    : status === 'valid'   ? '✓ Valid'
+    : status === 'invalid' ? 'Invalid — retry'
+    : 'Verify token';
+  const cls = status === 'valid'   ? 'text-green-400 border-green-600'
+    : status === 'invalid' ? 'text-red-400 border-red-600'
+    : 'text-blue-400 border-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-900/20';
+  return (
+    <button
+      type="button"
+      onClick={onVerify}
+      disabled={status === 'checking'}
+      className={`mt-2 px-3 py-1 text-xs border rounded transition-colors ${cls}`}
+    >
+      {label}
+    </button>
+  );
+}
+
 function Step4DomainConfig({
   domainType, cellName,
   customDomain, onCustomDomain,
@@ -419,6 +434,25 @@ function Step4DomainConfig({
   onNext, onBack,
 }) {
   const [errors, setErrors] = useState({});
+  const [cfStatus, setCfStatus] = useState(null);   // null|checking|valid|invalid
+  const [dnsStatus, setDnsStatus] = useState(null);
+
+  const verifyCf = async () => {
+    setCfStatus('checking');
+    try {
+      const res = await setupAPI.validate('cloudflare_token', { token: cloudflareToken });
+      setCfStatus(res.data?.valid ? 'valid' : 'invalid');
+    } catch { setCfStatus('invalid'); }
+  };
+
+  const verifyDns = async () => {
+    const sub = customDomain.replace(/\.duckdns\.org$/i, '') || customDomain.split('.')[0];
+    setDnsStatus('checking');
+    try {
+      const res = await setupAPI.validate('duckdns_token', { subdomain: sub, token: duckdnsToken });
+      setDnsStatus(res.data?.valid ? 'valid' : 'invalid');
+    } catch { setDnsStatus('invalid'); }
+  };
 
   // ── pic_ngo: just show the derived domain ────────────────────────────────
   if (domainType === 'pic_ngo') {
@@ -538,6 +572,7 @@ function Step4DomainConfig({
               onChange={e => {
                 onCloudflareToken(e.target.value);
                 setErrors(p => ({ ...p, token: '' }));
+                setCfStatus(null);
               }}
               placeholder="Cloudflare API token with DNS:Edit permission"
               className="w-full bg-gray-800 border border-gray-600 rounded px-3 py-2 text-white text-sm focus:outline-none focus:border-blue-500 placeholder-gray-600"
@@ -545,6 +580,9 @@ function Step4DomainConfig({
             <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-gray-500">
               Create at Cloudflare Dashboard → My Profile → API Tokens. Needs Zone / DNS / Edit.
             </p>
+            {cloudflareToken.trim() && (
+              <TokenVerifyButton onVerify={verifyCf} status={cfStatus} />
+            )}
             <FieldError message={errors.token} />
           </div>
         )}
@@ -562,6 +600,7 @@ function Step4DomainConfig({
               onChange={e => {
                 onDuckdnsToken(e.target.value);
                 setErrors(p => ({ ...p, token: '' }));
+                setDnsStatus(null);
               }}
               placeholder="Your DuckDNS account token"
               className="w-full bg-gray-800 border border-gray-600 rounded px-3 py-2 text-white text-sm focus:outline-none focus:border-blue-500 placeholder-gray-600"
@@ -569,6 +608,9 @@ function Step4DomainConfig({
             <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-gray-500">
               Found at duckdns.org after login. The subdomain must already exist in your account.
             </p>
+            {duckdnsToken.trim() && (
+              <TokenVerifyButton onVerify={verifyDns} status={dnsStatus} />
+            )}
             <FieldError message={errors.token} />
           </div>
         )}